@NewsnetMidlands
A unique, local and national news source for the Midlands region.

Wednesday, 16 June 2010

Expert Calls for Halving of Drink Drive Limit.

By Ben Aulakh

A legal expert and author of a review into reducing the current drink-drive limit is urging the government to cut it by half.

Sir Peter North, an academic who is leading the review wants ministers to reduce the current limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

He said, “What I think you will be able to do is to go out to the pub for a drink, a pint of beer or a glass of wine.

“It's not that you won't be able to have a pint, but it's a balance," North told Sky news.

Sir Peter’s recommendation draws on new research from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence – NICE; he says that 168 lives, about 7% of UK road deaths, could be saved by a lower limit in just one year.

This could rise to as many as 303 lives after six years, if the new limit was introduced.

The expert is also asking for the current 12 month ban on anyone caught drink driving remains in-force at a proposed 50mg limit.

The review began when the former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis asked North to examine investigate possible changes to drink and drug driving legislation.

In his report the author has made more than 51 recommendations, including changes to police procedures aimed at improving enforcement of drug driving laws.

Current Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said, “Sir Peter's report is a serious piece of work that covers a wide range of issues.

“Our priority will be to tackle drink and drug-driving in the most effective way possible to protect law-abiding road users, we will respond to Sir Peter’s recommendations in due course.”